Ecotourism in Costa Rica and Vietnam: Is It Sustainable?

International tourism is a trillion dollar business that is expected to grow. Many tourists are drawn to ecotours, which advertise a diversity of opportunities beyond experiencing nature. The carbon footprint tourists create by travel to their destinations and the water and energy they use upon their arrival is substantial and unsustainable. Their presence in nature can also lead to degradation of the environment they have come to enjoy. And most tourists suffer from a form of environmental amnesia, meaning they have little or no understanding of how nature is being transformed by their activities, or by climate change. This article draws on four cases based on the personal experiences of the authors, two from Costa Rica and two from Vietnam, to underscore the challenges in trying to balance people's economic and social needs against those of the environment. The authors argue that certification programs for sustainable adventures, hotels, and a clear definition of what constitutes ecotourism are essential for protecting the environment and creating a vital economy. The good news is that several surveys indicate that international tourists would be willing to pay for sustainable activities and for their own education about the sites they visit.